Mountain Biking - Downhill/Freeride: To Clip-in or Not to Clip-in???

I am relatively new on all aspects of biking, I started this obsession on the road clipping into my '06 Cannondale Synapse and Cannondale T800 (like I said, it's an obsession). But now I find myself also riding a mountain bike, a Specialized Enduro (bought it used completely pimped out...very happy) and naturally put clipless pedals on it. Wanting to use the bike for more than just cross-country rides, I found some pretty scary downhills this weekend and in my completely ignorant bliss just went at it without really knowing what I was doing. I HAD A BLAST! But now I wonder to myself...."Self, do you really think it was wise to blast down a mountain at 25MPH while clipped/stuck to a bike without any real hope of breaking free from said bike if disaster strikes?" So, I ask, what is the norm for Downhill and Freeride? Do you clip in or not?

Aside from exceptions like Sam Hill, the fast DHers ride clipless pedals. If you feel comfortable, do it. I cannot - - knowing full well that I would be faster/better if I could; but I just can't.

I run clipless on the DH bike when racing or when riding a pedally course or a course where I could get lots of pedal smacks (the V10 has a fairly low BB). I use platforms all other times.

But now I wonder to myself...."Self, do you really think it was wise to blast down a mountain at 25MPH while clipped/stuck to a bike without any real hope of breaking free from said bike if disaster strikes?"

After you ride clipless enough, clipping out while bailing will be second nature. I had several crashes last season with clipless on the DH bike and the pedals were never the cause of the crash, nor did they contribute to the severity of the crash.

After you ride clipless enough, clipping out while bailing will be second nature. I had several crashes last season with clipless on the DH bike and the pedals were never the cause of the crash, nor did they contribute to the severity of the crash.

What pedals do you use and how tight do you have them set?

Shimano SPD and I have them set as tight as they can go.

Aside from exceptions like Sam Hill, the fast DHers ride clipless pedals. If you feel comfortable, do it. I cannot - - knowing full well that I would be faster/better if I could; but I just can't.

:eek: I can't even believe it!

I always use platforms when freeriding or DH racing. Personal preference... I just don't like being clipped in when I am 10 ft in the air.

I always use platforms when freeriding or DH racing. Personal preference... I just don't like being clipped in when I am 10 ft in the air.

How about 11 feet?

How about 11 feet?

9's good ;)...

Not clipped in here. At this point it is partially due to availability. In order for me to test it it would cost a fortune because very few companies make cheap size 15 or 16 shoes. I can't justify spending 3 to 400 bucks just to test something out. I don't have the money or the inclination.

I feel more confident descending and going over more technical stuff b/c I know my feet aren't gone come off and I can control the bike better.

This thread has been done a time or two over on mtbr heh
I'm a clipless guy, or i was before the bike got stolen, and i found it really confidence inspiring too, especially on new trail features or a new trail, and i would actually highly recommend it to a newbie. If you have them set up right as well, crashes are no problem,as i found on more than one occasion. Just my

Crank Brothers Eggbeaters are super fast in and out of them.

Crank Brothers Eggbeaters are super fast in and out of them.

I wouldnt go DH/FRing on eggbeaters. Shimano is where its at over in that tent.

9's good ;)...

Not clipped in here. At this point it is partially due to availability. In order for me to test it it would cost a fortune because very few companies make cheap size 15 or 16 shoes. I can't justify spending 3 to 400 bucks just to test something out. I don't have the money or the inclination.

Damn!! Size 16? I could use those to paddle across lake Erie!!

Clipped for me.

Crank Brothers Eggbeaters are super fast in and out of them.

Funny you say that...my bike has Eggbeaters on it and I have the most difficult time getting out of those than anything else. This strikes me as funny as they have no adjustment and seem like they should be easiest. The Look pedals on my road bike are without a doubt the easiest for me to get out of...it's just a very clean 'snap' and I'm out. The eggbeaters feel mushy and grab if I'm not completely over emphasizing the movement to clip out. I think I may order new cleats to see if that fixes anything.

Aside from exceptions like Sam Hill, the fast DHers ride clipless pedals. If you feel comfortable, do it. I cannot - - knowing full well that I would be faster/better if I could; but I just can't.

Just contemplating this, isnt Sam the first guy in a fair while to win the world champs on flats? Heard that somewhere....

Does Steve Pete ride flats?

I'm perfectly fine with either clipless or platforms.

Does Steve Pete ride flats?

*Peat :P
Not sure. Went and checked with the google machine. Looks like he rocks the Mallets.

^^Aww you saw that before I could sneak in and correct it for him ;)

Funny you say that...my bike has Eggbeaters on it and I have the most difficult time getting out of those than anything else. This strikes me as funny as they have no adjustment and seem like they should be easiest. The Look pedals on my road bike are without a doubt the easiest for me to get out of...it's just a very clean 'snap' and I'm out. The eggbeaters feel mushy and grab if I'm not completely over emphasizing the movement to clip out. I think I may order new cleats to see if that fixes anything.

When was the last time you replaced the cleats?

When was the last time you replaced the cleats?

I just bought the bike a month ago and it came with Mallet-C's already on it. The previous owner gave me his cleats and initially I thought they might need replacing but I guess the proof is in the pudding. I will be ordering new ones soonest.

^^Aww you saw that before I could sneak in and correct it for him ;)

QFT!
Quoted for truth.

I feel more confident descending and going over more technical stuff b/c I know my feet aren't gone come off and I can control the bike better.

Define "technical".

I prefer flats on the big bike. But every now and then I do get my feet bounced off the pedals.

This thread has been done a time or two over on mtbr heh
I'm a clipless guy, or i was before the bike got stolen, and i found it really confidence inspiring too, especially on new trail features or a new trail, and i would actually highly recommend it to a newbie. If you have them set up right as well, crashes are no problem,as i found on more than one occasion. Just my

It has here too...this isn't the first time ;)

Damn!! Size 16? I could use those to paddle across lake Erie!!

Officially a 15. But the euro company that had shoes that fit me (sidi maybe, I don't remember) only fit in a 16 due to their tiny euro sizing. (freaking things are narrow)...

There have been some shoes I was interested in, usually skate shoes with clips, but they only ever went up to size 12. I havent been that small since grade 6 haaha

I think it a matter of what you are most comfortable with. I clip in on my mountain bike no matter what the terrain, and feel very comfortable in all situations. When i ride my bmx at the skatepark i go clipless and it is very weird not being clipped in. It is taking me some time to get comfortable being clipless.

^^
Of course going clipless means that you are in fact clipped in. Duuuuh. ;) I could never understand why people mess up with this particular terminology. :rolleyes:

. . . I could never understand why people mess up with this particular terminology. :rolleyes:Because cycling culture has a gift for developing goofy terminology :rolleyes:.

*Peat :P
Not sure. Went and checked with the google machine. Looks like he rocks the Mallets.

Aw man! I googled his website right before i posted it and thought i changed the spelling... oh well. and yes, he indeed does rock the mallets. thanks for checking.

for the longest time I was real scared of clipless on my mtb but finally i went over to clipless, what found as i actually crash less with the clipless pedals because I feel much more secure and connected to the bike

What about toe straps and cleated shoes? Now there's connection to the bike.

What about toe straps and cleated shoes? Now there's connection to the bike.

GO BACK TO THE TRACK FORUMS! :D

From talking to the owner of the Local Freeride MTB shop, it seems most people here like a good platform with sticky flat shoes (510's seem to be the popular brand). And from I've seen on the (freeride) trails around here most riders have platforms.

clipless for speed

platforms for fun and for building and for push back up sessioning.

Me personally, I dont like the fact that im stuck to the bike.
im a great rider without having to be connected to the bike.
Ride right, your feet stay on the pedals.

Me personally, I dont like the fact that im stuck to the bike.
im a great rider without having to be connected to the bike.
Ride right, your feet stay on the pedals.

Okay, I take back what I said about you never posting anything entertaining.

If you aren't falling, you are not riding hard enough. Never crashing doesn't mean you are a great rider either, just extremely lucky.

If you aren't falling, you are not riding hard enough. Never crashing doesn't mean you are a great rider either, just extremely lucky.

Or just not ballsy enough. They Dont me Cap'n Crash for nothing. Well, im not ballsy, i just lack skill and bike control.

Crashing is the bike's way of telling you that you crossed that thin threshold between fast enough and out of control.

Crashing is the bike's way of telling you that you crossed that thin threshold between fast enough and out of control.

Or just "Learn how to land that jump fool"

Without crossing that line regularly, it never moves farther away.

Without crossing that line regularly, it never moves farther away.

This is true, I have found there is a limit to the amount of times you can cross that line though. I'm more than happy to do that.

Without crossing that line regularly, it never moves farther away.Quite true. When I used to race flat track, you never learned what the limits of adhesion were on a particular track surface until you maybe low-sided once or twice. You just didn't want to find that point in in your heat race with five other guys on your back wheel :eek:.

Crashing is the bike's way of telling you that you crossed that thin threshold between fast enough and out of control.
Let's talk about that line for second. It's amazingly thin yet has an intense gravitational pull to it, there is little warning when you have reached it. Once you cross over there is little chance of coming back.

Quite true. When I used to race flat track, you never learned what the limits of adhesion were on a particular track surface until you maybe low-sided once or twice. You just didn't want to find that point in in your heat race with five other guys on your back wheel :eek:.

You raced flat track? Cool! That has to be the most awesome motorsport ever.

You raced flat track? Cool! That has to be the most awesome motorsport ever.I had a blast doing it. It's probably why I'm still better at left-hand turns than right ;)

I think what is even more awesome is Class A Speedway; imagine flat track but you're sideways around the whole track with 500cc of alcohol-fueled engine under you (and no brakes of course). Alas, I never got a chance to try it.